French and English have hundreds of cognates (words which look and/or are pronounced alike in the two languages), including true (similar meanings), false (different meanings), and semi-false (some similar and some different meanings). My alphabetized list of hundreds of false cognates can be a bit unwieldy, so here is an abridged version of the most common false cognates in French and English.

Commander vs Command

Commander is a semi-false cognate.

It means to make an order (command) as well as to order (request) a meal or goods/services. Une commande is translated by order in English.

Command can be translated by commander, ordonner, or exiger. It is also a noun: un ordre or un commandement.

Con vs Con

Con is a vulgar word that literally refers to female genitalia. It usually means an idiot, or is used as an adjective in the sense of bloody or damned.

Con can be a noun - la frime, une escroquerie, or a verb - duper, escroquer. Pros and cons - le pour et le contre.

Crayon vs Crayon

Un crayon is a pencil, while a crayon is as un crayon de couleur. The French language uses this expression for both crayon and colored pencil.

Déception vs Deception

Une déception is a disappointment or let-down, while a deception is une tromperie or duperie.

Demander vs Demand

Demander means to ask for: Il m'a demandé de chercher son pull - He asked me to look for his sweater. Note that the French noun une demande does correspond to the English noun demand. To demand is usually translated by exiger: He demanded that I look for his sweater - Il a exigé que je cherche son pull.

Déranger vs Derange

Déranger can mean to derange (the mind), as well as to bother, disturb, or disrupt. Excusez-moi de vous déranger... - I'm sorry for bothering you.... To derange is used only when talking about mental health (usually as an adjective: deranged = dérangé).

Douche vs Douche Une douche is a shower, while douche in English refers to a method of cleaning a body cavity with air or water: lavage interne.

Entrée vs Entrée

Une entrée is an hors-d'oeuvre or appetizer, while an entrée refers to the main course of a meal: le plat principal.

Envie vs Envy

Avoir envie de means to want or to feel like something: Je n'ai pas envie de travailler - I don't want to work / I don't feel like working. The verb envier, however, does mean to envy.

Envy means to be jealous or desirous of something belonging to another. The French verb is envier: I envy John's courage - J'envie le courage à Jean.

Éventuellement vs Eventually

Éventuellement means possibly, if need be, or even: Vous pouvez éventuellement prendre ma voiture - You can even take my car / You can take my car if need be.

Eventually indicates that an action will occur at a later time; it can be translated by finalement, à la longue, or tôt ou tard: I will eventually do it - Je le ferai finalement / tôt ou tard.

Expérience vs Experience

Expérience is a semi-false cognate, because it means both experience and experiment: J'ai fait une expérience - I did an experiment. J'ai eu une expérience intéressante - I had an interesting experience.

Experience can be a noun or verb refering to something that happened. Only the noun translates into expérience: Experience shows that ... - L'expérience démontre que... He experienced some difficulties - Il a rencontré des difficultés.

More French-English false cognates:
Page 1: Actuellement/Actually to Collège/College
Page 2: Commander/Command to Expérience/Experience
Page 3: Finalement/Finally to Occasion
Page 4: Parti/Partie/Party to Zone